Dutch Committee for Afghanistan has significantly improved the livelihoods of rural livestock keepers by establishing 47 Milk Collection Centers (MCCs) across 17 provinces in Afghanistan. These centers are crucial in enhancing milk quality, improving market access, and ensuring fair pricing for local dairy products, benefiting thousands of herders in remote areas.

The project has equipped the MCCs with essential tools and infrastructure to support milk collection and processing. Each center received an investment of USD 1,800 for shop improvements and equipment, while local beneficiaries contributed USD 1,000 towards building the centers and purchasing necessary transport and construction materials. This collaborative effort has ensured that livestock keepers in rural areas now have a reliable means to sell fresh milk and other dairy products like yogurt, cheese, and ghee, which were previously difficult to market.

The 47 MCCs serve approximately 9,400 farming households, providing a centralized and hygienic collection point for milk. Trained lead herders and equipped them with proper milk pots to deliver the fresh milk to the centers, ensuring quality control and proper transportation. Over the past year, the MCCs have collected more than 1.5 million liters of fresh milk and significant quantities of other dairy products, including 40,079 kilograms of Chaka, 55,647 kilograms of yogurt, and 6,689 kilograms of ghee.

The project’s success is evident in the financial gains made by the MCCs, with a gross profit of nearly 12.75 million AFN (about 179,500 USD) reported from June 2023 to June 2024. These achievements not only provide income for local herders but also contribute to the broader rural economy, improving food security and sustainability in these areas.